RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Pattern separation and tuning shift in human sensory cortex underlie fear memory
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.08.27.457990
DO 10.1101/2021.08.27.457990
A1 Yuqi You
A1 Lucas R. Novak
A1 Kevin Clancy
A1 Wen Li
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/08/28/2021.08.27.457990.abstract
AB Animal research has recognized the role of the sensory cortex in fear memory and two key underlying mechanisms—pattern separation and tuning shift. We interrogated these mechanisms in the human sensory cortex in an olfactory differential conditioning study with a delayed (9-day) retention test. Combining affective appraisal and olfactory psychophysics with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) multivoxel pattern analysis and voxel-based tuning analysis over a linear odor-morphing continuum, we confirmed affective and perceptual learning and memory and demonstrated associative plasticity in the human olfactory (piriform) cortex. Specifically, the piriform cortex exhibited immediate and lasting enhancement in pattern separation (between the conditioned stimuli/CS and neighboring non-CS) and late-onset yet lasting tuning shift towards the CS, especially in anxious individuals. These findings highlight an evolutionarily conserved sensory cortical system of fear memory, which can underpin sensory encoding of fear/threat and confer a sensory mechanism to the neuropathophysiology of anxiety.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.